Buyeo

Buyeo, also spelled Puyeo or Fuyu in Chinese sources (扶餘), refers to an ancient kingdom that occupied parts of the southern Manchurian plain and the northern Korean Peninsula. It emerged in the early centuries BCE and endured until roughly the 5th century CE, when its territory was absorbed by Goguryeo. In Chinese and Korean chronicles, Buyeo is described as a significant regional power that interacted with neighboring polities and the Han dynasty. The kingdom operated as a hereditary monarchy, with society engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, ironworking, and trade across frontier zones. Over time its political center shifted, and its decline came as Goguryeo expanded southward and incorporated Buyeo lands.

Modern Buyeo refers to Buyeo County (Buyeo-gun) in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. The area preserves landscapes and archaeological remains associated with the Baekje-era history that followed Buyeo on the Korean Peninsula. Parts of Buyeo are included in the Baekje Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing Baekje-era cultural remains across Gongju, Buyeo, and nearby Iksan. The site highlights the region’s role in early Korean state formation and its legacy in subsequent Korean civilizations.

Today, Buyeo is known for historical tourism, museums, and festivals that explore its Baekje and Buyeo-period heritage. Its cultural landscape along the Geum River reflects connections between ancient northeast Asian polities and later Korean states, making Buyeo a focal point for studies of regional history and archaeology.